Toulon vs.La Rochelle Rugby Match Postponed Amidst Torrential Rain and Stadium Flooding
TOULON, France – The Top 14 match between Toulon and La Rochelle was postponed just minutes before kickoff Sunday due to severe weather conditions. Heavy rainfall caused flooding at the Mayol stadium, including within the changing rooms, rendering the pitch unplayable and compromising player safety.
The postponement mirrors the earlier decision to reschedule the Marseille-Paris Saint-Germain football match, also due to weather concerns. Initially, the game had been slated to proceed, with the Var department remaining under orange vigilance. However, a “real deluge” descended upon the stadium while players were preparing in the locker room.
Referee Jérémy Rozier initially considered a 15-minute delay, stating, “For the moment, the conditions are not met. We are under the storm, there is thunder. We have to redo a point when the storm episode will be passed. According to the weather forecasts, it will be in a quarter of an hour. We will do a point on the outfit of the meeting or not.”
Ultimately, the deteriorating field conditions and continued rainfall led to the decision to postpone. Rozier explained to Canal+, “You see the state of the locker room, there is a flood here, it is the same thing on the field. The security conditions are not met. I had to postpone the match on another date because it will not be played today for obvious security reasons.” Reports indicate notable water infiltration throughout the stadium, including stands and corridors.
Finding a new date for the rugby match presents a challenge due to the packed rugby calendar, though Canal+ reports a potential rescheduling in November. Following the postponement, Toulon players, led by melvyn Jaminet, acknowledged the supporters gathered at the Mayol stadium despite the downpour.
